Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS

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USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Colonial National Historical Park Subnational Distribution with Crosswalk Data: State SRank Rel Conf SName Reference VA SNR* B 1 Basic Mesic Forest Fleming et al. 2001 Local Range: In Colonial National Historical Park, Coastal Plain Mesic Calcareous Ravine Forest is mapped at College Creek / Kingsmill and as small patches on the ravine slopes of Yorktown Creek and its tributary, as well as on the slopes over Wormley Pond. Classification Comments: Coastal Plain Mesic Calcareous Ravine Forest occurring on shell substrates may be confused with Coastal Plain Dry Calcareous Forest, and the two forests types may intergrade on the landscape. Coastal Plain Mesic Calcareous Ravine Forest is distinguished by the closed forest canopy and the lush forb-dominated herb layer and by the presence of mesic species Liriodendron tulipifera (tuliptree), Asimina triloba (pawpaw), Lindera benzoin (northern spicebush), Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot), Adiantum pedatum (northern maidenhair), and Actaea racemosa (= Cimicifuga racemosa, black bugbane). Late in the season, when some herb species are not evident, Coastal Plain Mesic Calcareous Ravine Forest may be confused with Mesic Mixed Hardwood Forest. Disturbed stands of this type may be confused with Successional Tuliptree - Loblolly Pine Forest. Quantitative analysis placed plot COLO.29 in the Coastal Plain Dry Calcareous Forest association, though the sample plot is compositionally intermediate between the two associations. Based on stand observations and photo interpretation, the sample was reclassified as Coastal Plain Mesic Calcareous Ravine Forest and the area including that plot was mapped as Coastal Plain Mesic Calcareous Ravine Forest. Other Comments: Late in the growing season, herb density and diversity may not be evident as many species are spring ephemerals or die back before the end of summer. Exotic plant species may quickly colonize these fertile areas, making disturbed examples of the association difficult to identify. This association has a very restricted range, being endemic to the southeastern Virginia Coastal Plain. High-quality examples are uncommon throughout the range of the association. Three examples of this association in Colonial National Historical Park meet the criteria to be considered Natural Heritage exemplary natural community occurrences, but all examples of this native plant association should be targets for conservation and management. Timber harvest degrades this community by allowing additional light and aggressive growth of invasive alien plants, which thrive in well-lit, calcareous situations and compete with the native flora. The examples in Colonial National Historical Park represent some of the few protected examples in the world. Local Description Authors: K. D. Patterson. Plots: COLO.6, COLO.29. Colonial National Historical Park Inventory Notes: Information not available. GLOBAL INFORMATION USNVC CLASSIFICATION Physiognomic Class Forest (I) Physiognomic Subclass Deciduous forest (I.B.) Physiognomic Group Cold-deciduous forest (I.B.2.) Physiognomic Subgroup Natural/Semi-natural cold-deciduous forest (I.B.2.N.) Formation Lowland or submontane cold-deciduous forest (I.B.2.N.a.) Alliance Fagus grandifolia - Quercus alba Forest Alliance (A.228) Alliance (English name) American Beech - White Oak Forest Alliance 186
USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Colonial National Historical Park Association Fagus grandifolia - Acer barbatum - Quercus muehlenbergii / Sanguinaria canadensis Forest Association (English name) American Beech - Southern Sugar Maple - Chinquapin Oak / Bloodroot Forest Ecological System(s): Atlantic Coastal Plain Mesic Hardwood Forest (CES203.242). Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Calcareous Ravine (CES203.069). GLOBAL DESCRIPTION Concept Summary: These rich mesophytic to submesophytic forests of calcareous ravines are found in the southeastern Virginia Coastal Plain and possibly the adjacent Piedmont. Habitats are north- to east-facing slopes and adjacent low interfluves downcut into Tertiary shell deposits or lime sands, including the Pliocene marine shell deposits of the calcium-rich Yorktown Formation. The canopies of stands of this association are typically dominated by variable combinations of Fagus grandifolia (American beech), Acer barbatum (southern sugar maple), Quercus rubra (northern red oak), Quercus muehlenbergii (chinkapin oak), Tilia americana var. americana (American basswood), Liriodendron tulipifera (tuliptree), and Quercus alba (white oak). Although generally not as constant or abundant as Fagus grandifolia (American beech), Acer barbatum (southern sugar maple), and Quercus muehlenbergii (chinkapin oak) occur in over two-thirds of the plot samples and are good diagnostic species. Characteristic or locally important understory species include Asimina triloba (pawpaw), Magnolia tripetala (umbrellatree), Ulmus rubra (slippery elm), Ilex opaca var. opaca (American holly), Cornus alternifolia (alternateleaf dogwood), Cercis canadensis var. canadensis (eastern redbud), and Carpinus caroliniana (American hornbeam). Common herbs are Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern), Asarum canadense (Canadian wildginger), Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa (roundlobe hepatica), Arisaema triphyllum (Jack in the pulpit), Actaea racemosa (=Cimicifuga racemosa, black bugbane), Cardamine concatenata (cutleaf toothwort), Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot), Adiantum pedatum (northern maidenhair), Packera aurea (golden ragwort), and Luzula acuminata var. carolinae (Carolina woodrush). The grass Brachyelytrum erectum (bearded shorthusk) is abundant and characteristic of more submesic habitats (e.g., convex north slopes) occupied by the type. Related vegetation occurs in the southern Piedmont of Virginia (Charlotte County). More floristic information is available in Ware and Ware (1992). Environmental Description: These rich mesophytic to submesophytic forests of calcareous ravines are found in the southeastern Virginia Coastal Plain. Habitats are north- to east-facing slopes and adjacent low interfluves downcut into Tertiary shell deposits or limesands, including the Pliocene marine shell deposits of the calcium-rich Yorktown Formation. Soils are highly calcareous, with mean calcium levels >2200 ppm in 22 analyzed samples. Vegetation Description: The canopies of stands of this association are typically dominated by variable combinations of Fagus grandifolia (American beech), Acer barbatum (southern sugar maple), Quercus rubra (northern red oak), Quercus muehlenbergii (chinkapin oak), Tilia americana var. americana (American basswood), Liriodendron tulipifera (tuliptree), and Quercus alba (white oak). Although generally not as constant or abundant as Fagus grandifolia (American beech), Acer barbatum (southern sugar maple), and Quercus muehlenbergii (chinkapin oak) occur in more than two-thirds of the plot samples and are good diagnostic species. Characteristic or locally important understory species include Asimina triloba (pawpaw), Magnolia tripetala (umbrella-tree), Ulmus rubra (slippery elm), Ilex opaca var. opaca (American holly), Cornus alternifolia (alternateleaf dogwood), Cercis canadensis var. canadensis (eastern redbud), and Carpinus caroliniana (American hornbeam). Common herbs are Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern), Asarum canadense (Canadian wildginger), Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa (roundlobe hepatica), Arisaema triphyllum (Jack in the pulpit), 187
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Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS

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